Bitumen pumping apparatus

ABSTRACT

A pumping apparatus with a pump and driver mounted on a frame and connected to a two-position valve and valve control, and with a conduit through the frame connected to the valve to convey liquid from the tank.

obson, S11. et a1. [45] M 7, 1974 BlTUMEN PUMPING APPARATUS 3,255,702 6/l966 06mm .1 417/424 1751 Dobsom Rlchard P 533,132 3513?; ZZLiLZZTf. 2222 42 Chm", of Wlchlta, Kans- 3,216,650 11/1965 Thyreen 417 411 x Assignee: Ron J. McGraw, El Dorado, Kans.

Filed: Jan. 24,1972

Appl. No.: 220,221

U.S. Cl 417/424, 251/247, 417/440, 417/900 Int. Cl. F04b 35/04 Field of Search 417/360, 440, 900, 424; 222/110, 372, 380, 385; 251/145, 147, 231, 247, 341, 347

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1950 Von Haase 417/424 X Primary Examiner-C, J. Husar Assistant Examiner-Leonard Smith Attorney, Agent, or Firm lohn H. Widdowson [57] ABSTRACT A pumping apparatus with a pump and driver mounted on a frame and connected to a two-position valve and valve control, and with a conduit through the frame connected to the valve to convey liquid from the tank.

8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 1 BITUMEN PUMPING APPARATUS Numerous means are known in the prior art to pump very viscous liquids, such as roofing compounds from a heated kettle or tank on to the roof of a building. However, these devices are not satisfactory in their performance or operation. The prior art devices have pumps which are in some cases not heated and are difficult to thaw out or melt the residual material left in them before they can be used. Other prior art devices use pumps which are not positive displacement pumps and thus must be exactly positioned relative to the liquids surface in order for their proper operation. Also, some prior art devices use small internal combustion engines for power; these are dangerous to operate around the heated liquid and are usually troublesome to maintain.

In a preferred specific embodiment of this invention, a bitumen pumping apparatus is provided for moving heated roofing compounds that includes an elongated frame assembly supporting a pump, with a driving motor, a flow control valve and having a liquid conduit integral with the frame. The apparatus is mountable on a tank with the pump and flow control valve inside the tank and immersible in the heated liquid. The integral conduit is connected to the pump discharge and terminates on the outer end of the frame; it is attachable to a flexible dispensing conduit. The driving motor is directly coupled to the pump and is mounted on the upper end of the frame. The recirculating flow control valve is controlled by a lever and a linkage that will open the valve by its weight alone so it will not pass liquid but circulate it in the kettle. When the lever is moved so as to close the valve, then liquid will pass into the conduit. The flow control valve has one inlet and two outlets; one outlet is to the conduit and the other as a return to the kettle and the inlet is from the pump. The return outlet is controlled to change flow of the liquid. The pumping apparatus is preferably mounted on Y a heated kettle of roofing asphalt, coal pitch tar or the like and connected to a dispensing conduit leading to the roof of a building. The lever is connected to a lanyard so when it is pulled the liquid will flow through the dispensing conduit to the building roof.

One object of this invention is to provide a bitumen pumping apparatus overcoming the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art devices.

One other object of this invention is to provide a bitumen pumping apparatus having a frame easily mountable on a bitumen heating kettle with a continually operating pump using a controllable recirculating flow control valveto direct the liquid flow so it can be dispensed onto the roof of a building.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a bitumen pumping apparatus which mounts on a heated bitumen kettle and will operate with the pump and recirculating flow control valve submerged.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a bitumen pumping apparatus with a frame that has a conduit passageway through it from the recirculating flow control valve to an outlet in order to pass liquid from the kettle to be dispensed.

Various other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following discussion, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the pumping apparatus mounted on a typical kettle with the pump submerged and having a portion of the kettle cut away for clarity;

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the pump side of the pumping apparatus mounted on a kettle taken from inside the kettle;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the lowerportion of the pumping apparatus showing the recirculating flow control valve in open position and pump assembly mounted on the frame;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the recirculating flow control valve taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2, showing in open relationship the valve closure member and valve seat; and

FIG. 5 is a pictorial perspective view of the bitumen pumping apparatus mounted on a kettle positioned alongside a building with a conduit and valve control lanyard leading to the top of the building.

The following is a discussion and description of preferred specific embodiments of the bitumen pumping apparatus of this invention, such being made with reference to the drawings, whereupon the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar parts and/or structure. It is to be understood that such discussion and description is not to unduly limit the scope of the invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail and in particular to FIG. 1, a bitumen pumping apparatus of this invention, indicated generally at 10, is shown mounted on a kettle 12. The bitumen pumping apparatus includes a frame 14 supporting a pump 16 and recirculating flow control valve 18 on its lower end portion and an electric motor 20 on the upper portion. The frame 14 is angularly mounted on the kettle l2 and connectable to a dispensing conduit 22 on the upper end; it supports the pump 16 and recirculating flow control valve 18 inside the kettle 12.

The frame 14 is rectangular in shape and includes a pair of elongated side members 24 and 26 joined by a transverse member 28 at their upper end and a second transverse member 30 below the upper end and a kettle mount 32 on the bottom side. The kettle mount 32 is adapted to support the frame 14 in an angular position resting on the rim of the kettle 12. The kettle mount 32 has downwardly extending members 34' attached to each of the elongated side members which fit on opposite sides of the kettle rim 35 and horizontal members 36 between the other members 34 to rest on the top of the kettle rim 35. The kettle mount 32 is adapted to slip over the kettle rim 35 and down the sides to hold the frame 14 in a substantially rigid position. The elongated member 26 has the pump mounted on its lower end as can be seen in the drawings, FIGS. 2 and 3.The other elongated member 24 is hollow and is integrally joined with the recirculating flow control valve 18 forming a conduit for liquid passing from the valve. On the upper end of the elongated member 24 a threaded pipe type conduit 38 is provided for attachment of the dispensing conduit 22. The lower ends of the elongated side members 24 and 26 extend past the pump 16 and recirculating flow control valve; these frame extensions provide protection for the pump and valve when it is not mounted on a kettle 12. The frame 14 is shown constructed of rectangular conduit; however, it is to be understood that it can be constructed of any suitable shaped conduit.

The .pump 16 is preferably bolted to the elongated member 26 so it can easily be removed for servicing as needed, The pump 16 is preferably a positive displace ment gear type pump, such as a shaft driven rotary positive displacement pump, adapted for high temperature operation and pumping of very viscous liquids. As can be seen in the drawings, the pump 16 is fitted with an extended shaft 40 so it can be operated by the motor that is mounted well above the heated kettle 12. The motor 20 is preferably bolted to the transverse frame member and attached to the pump shaft 40 by a coupler 42. The electric motor 20 is controlled by a switch box 43 mounted adjacent to it. A short electrical cord 45 and plug are provided to connect the motor 20 to a source of electrical power. The transverse frame member 30 extends to the lower side of the frame so the elongated side members 24 and 26, pump shaft 40 and the shaft of'the motor 20 are generally in line. Alignment of the motor 20 and pump shaft 40 with the frame members 24 and 26 provides a low center of gravity for the apparatus while placing the motor 20 as far away from the heated liquid as possible.

The pump 16 preferably has a threaded inletand outlet, and it is fitted with a strainer 44 threadedly mounted with the inlet. The strainer 44 is an elongated conduit supported at a right angle to the pump inlet, closed at the end and having a plurality of holes 46 therethrough for liquid to flow through. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the strainer is sufficiently elongated so as to reach well into the lower portion of the kettle 12. The depth of the strainer 44 allows the pump 16 to substantially drain the kettle of liquid. When the pumping apparatus 10 is removed from the kettle 12, the strainer 44 can be rotated at its threaded connection with the pump 16 to align with the frame in order to protect it. Also, the threaded connection to the pump 16 provides a means to position the strainer 44 so as to adjust the depth to which liquid will be taken from the kettle; this is important if the kettle 12 is not as deep as the one shown in FIG. 1.

The recirculating flow control valve 18 has a valve body 50 integrally attached to the hollow elongatedmal motion. To prevent damage to the flow control frame side member 24 with an external valve seat 52 and a movable valve seat closure member 54. The valve body 50 has a threaded inner end portion 54 so it can be attached to the outlet of the pump 16. The valve body 50 is essentially a straight conduit section with the threaded inner end 55 joined to the-elongated member 24 and having the valve closure member 54 integral therewith and positioned on the bottom side of the valve body 50. The valve seat 52 has an inwardly tapered seat surface 56 inclined to the outer portion. The

' valve closure member 54 has a tapered plug portion'58 on the inner surface to fit into the inclined seat surface 56 of the valve seat 52. The valve closure member 54 is supported and positioned by two attached connecting rod members 60 and 62 above and below the valve body which pass through apertures 64 and 66 in the valve seat 52 and are attached to an actuator rod end member 68. An actuator rod 70 is secured to the end member 68 to move the valve closure member 54 into contact with the valve seat 52. The connecting rod members 60 and 62 are suffieiently long to position the valve closure member 54 so that liquid will freely flow through the aperture formed within the valve seat surface 56 and allow the valve seat member 52 and valve closure member 54 to be pulled into contact with mini- .about, a curved shield 72 is provided, attached to the elongated member 24 and curved over the upper portion of the valve 18 as can be seen in the drawings. In open position as shown in FIG. 4, liquid flows out through the valve seat aperture 56 and back into the kettle 12; yet when the valve 18 is in the closed position, the valve closure member 54 is against the valve seat member 52 and the liquid flows into the elongated side member 24 and through it to a dispensing conduit 22.

The recirculating flow control valve 18 is actuated by a valve control apparatus having a compound linkage connected to the valve closure member 54. The linkage has a lever 76 pivotally mounted on its end to a bracket 78 attached to the elongated frame side member 24 as can be seen in FIG. 1. The lever 76 is pivotally secured to the actuator rod by a clevis and attaches the lever 76 a short distance below its pivotally mounted upper end. The actuator rod 70 is secured to the rod end member 68 and positioned alongside the elongated frame side member 24 and held in place there by a guide 80. The guide 80 is secured to the elongated frame side member 24 and wrapped around the actuator rod 70 so the rod will move in longitudinal alignment with the side member 24 when the lever 76 is moved. The actuator rod 70 must necessarily move in alignment with the side member 24 so the valve closure member 54 will be pulled into correct sealing contact with the valve seat member 52. As the lever 76 is rotated upward at its pivotal attachment, the actuator rod 70 is pulled upward closing the recirculating flow control valve 18 and'when it is rotated in the opposite direction, the actuator rod 70 is pushed downward opening the recirculating flow control valve 18. It is to be noted that due to the mounting of the lever 76, its own weight provides sufficient force to move the actuator rod 70 and open the recirculating flow control valve 16. The self opening feature of the flow valve control 18 is an important safety feature as will be described in use of the pumping apparatus 10. The lever 76 is provided with a loop 82 at its lower end so a lanyard can be attached to it and used to remotely control the recirculating flow control valve 18.

When the pumping apparatus 10 of this invention is to be used, it is placed on the rim of a kettle 12 as shown in detail in FIG. 1 and generally in FIG. 5. Since the materials used in roofing operations are very viscous and are applied when hot, the material in the kettle 12 is heated suffieiently so the material is liquified before the pump is placed in the kettle or operated. It

is to be noted that the pumping apparatus 10 can be left in the kettle 12 even though it has roofing material in it. However, uponheating of the kettle, the pump 16 will not operate until it is suffieiently thawed out. In order to prevent damage to the pump 16 or electric motor 20 by operation before the roofing material is thawed out, an overload circuit is incorporated in the motor 20 that will shut it off should it become overloaded. To determine if the pump 16 is suffieiently thawed out to operate, the motor 20 can be started; if it shuts itself off, it is not ready to operate. It has been found in practice that once the motor 20 will turn the pump 16, it will quickly be free enough for the pumping operation to proceed. As long as the recirculating flow control valve 18 is open, the pump 16 will circulate the roofing material in the kettle 12 in effect stirring the liquid.

When the pumping apparatus is prepared for operation, the dispensing conduit 22 is coupled to the outlet conduit 38 on the upper end of the frame 14. The output end of the dispensing conduit is on the roof or wherever the heated material in the kettle is to be dispensed. Also, a rope or lanyard of some type 84 is attached to the loop 82 on the end of the lever 76 and is extended to the building top, as shown in FIG. 5. The rope 84 is used to control the recirculating flow control valve 18 and thereby control the flow of liquid passing through the dispensing conduit 22. When the rope 84 is pulled, the lever 76 is moved upward thereby pulling the valve closure member 54 into contact with the valve seat 52 closing the recirculating valve 18 and causing liquid to be pumped through the dispensing conduit. An important feature of this invention is that until the flow control valve is closed, the dispensing conduit 22 is empty and it is filled only when liquid is pumped through it. Once the flow control valve 18 is opened, any liquid in the dispensing conduit flows back into the kettle 12 where it is kept hot. Because the dispensing conduit 22 is cleared of liquid, it has been found that it will not become easily plugged due to material solidifying in it and any material which does solidify on its walls is quickly melted when pumping is resumed. it is to be noted that should the rope break the recirculating flow control valve 18 will be opened by the gravity force acting on the lever 76.

ln the manufacture of the bitumen pumping apparatus 10 of this invention, it is seen that same is constructed with a conduit frame which is the supporting structure as well as a liquid passageway. The pumping apparatus 10 is constructed of conduit segments joined integrally together so as to make the structure removably mountable on a kettle l2.

In the use and operation of the pumping apparatus 10 of this invention, it is seen that same provides a portable structure easily mountable with a heated roofing kettle 12. The pumping apparatus 10 is adapted to pump hot liquid from the kettle 12 to the roof of a building and is controllable by the person on the building roof. The submerged pump permits the pumping apparatus to be left in the kettle and in the roofing ma terial when cool and thawed out for use as the roofing material is heated.

As will be apparent from the foregoing description of the applicants bitumen pumping apparatus, relatively inexpensive means have been provided to pump heated roofing material from a kettle to the roof. The pumping apparatus is simple to use and mount with a kettle, easily manufactured and can be left in the heating kettle when cool or removed and stored separately.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with preferred specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that this description is intended to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the following claims.

We claim:

1. A pumping means comprising:

a. a frame means,

b. a conduit means connected to said frame means having a first inlet and a first outlet,

0. a pump means mounted on said frame means having a second inlet and a second outlet,

d. a means for activating said pump means mounted on said frame means and operably connected to said pump means,

e. a valve means connected to said second outlet and to said first inlet for regulating the flow from said pump means into said conduit means,

f. a linkage means attached to said valve means, and

g. an actuator lever pivotally mounted on said frame means and secured to said linkage means for opening and closing said valve means,

h. said valve means is a recirculating flow control valve and has a third outlet, a fourth outlet and a third inlet, said third outlet has a valve seat and a valve seat closure member movable by said linkage means to close and open said third outlet, said third outlet in a closed position causes flow through said fourth outlet and into said conduit means and in an open position causes the flow to return into said container,

. said actuator lever is connected to said valve seat closure member by said linkage means to move said valve closure member into said closed position,

j. said actuator lever is pivotally mounted with said frame means depending therefrom and pivotally mounted with said linkage means such that the weight of said lever holds said third outlet in normally open position and said lever member upon upward movement thereof moves said valve seat closure member to close said third outlet.

2. The pumping means as described in claim 1,

wherein:

a. said valve means has a valve body with a passageway between said third inlet, said third outlet and said fourth outlet,

b. said valve seat is on the exterior of said valve body,

and

c. said valve seat closure member is externally mounted with said valve body adapted to be engagable with saidvalve seat by said linkage means.

3. The pumping means of claim l, wherein:

a. said frame means is mountable on a container,

b. said valve means is mounted on said frame means,

c. said conduit means constitutes an integral part of said frame means, and (I. said pump means is submersible.

4. The pumping means as described in claim 3,

wherein:

a. said frame means has a pair of elongated members and a mount to attach said frame means in overhanging relation on the side of said container with i c. said conduit means has said first inlet on the lower end portion of said frame means and said first outlet on the upper end portion of said frame means adapted to pass liquid through said frame means,

d. said valve means and said pump means are mounted on said lower end portion of said frame means.

5. The pumping meansas described in claim 4,

wherein:

a. said pump means is a shaft driven rotary positive displacement pump having an inlet strainer mounted on said second inlet and extending therefrom, r

b. said pump is secured to one of said elongated members and positioned between said pair of elongated members, and connected to said conduit means portion of said frame means by said valve means, and

c said pump is adapted to operate above and below the liquid level in a tank.

6. The pumping means as described in claim 5,

wherein:

a. said conduit means portion of said frame means is one of said elongated members that has said first inlet on the lower end portion thereof, said first outlet on the upper end portion thereof and means to attach said conduit means to another conduit means for distribution of the pumped liquid.

7. The pumping means as described in claim 1 wherein said means for activating said pump means is an electric motor.

8. The pumping means as described in claim 7 wherein said electric motor has as an overload circuit that will automatically shut said motor off should said motor become overloaded. 

1. A pumping means comprising: a. a frame means, b. a conduit means connected to said frame means having a first inlet and a first outlet, c. a pump means mounted on said frame means having a second inlet and a second outlet, d. a means for activating said pump means mounted on said frame means and operably connected to said pump means, e. a valve means connected to said second outlet and to said first inlet for regulating the flow from said pump means into said conduit means, f. a linkage means attached to said valve means, and g. an actuator lever pivotally mounted on said frame means and secured to said linkage means for opening and closing said valve means, h. said valve means is a recirculating flow control valve and has a third outlet, a fourth outlet and a third inlet, said third outlet has a valve seat and a valve seat closure member movable by said linkage means to close and open said third outlet, said third outlet in a closed position causes flow through said fourth outlet and into said conduit means and in an open position causes the flow to return into said container, i. said actuator lever is connected to said valve seat closure member by said linkage means to move said valve closure member into said closed position, j. said actuator lever is pivotally mounted with said frame means depending therefrom and pivotally mounted with said linkage means such that the weight of said lever holds said third outlet in normally open position and said lever member upon upward movement thereof moves said valve seat closure member to close said third outlet.
 2. The pumping means as described in claim 1, wherein: a. said valve means has a valve body with a passageway between said third inlet, said third outlet and said fourth outlet, b. said valve seat is on the exterior of said valve body, and c. said valve seat closure member is externally mounted with said valve body adapted to be engagable with said valve seat by said linkage means.
 3. The pumping means of claim 1, wherein: a. said frame means is mountable on a container, b. said valve means is mounted on said frame means, c. said conduit means constitutes an integral part of said frame means, and d. said pump means is submersible.
 4. The pumping means as described in claim 3, wherein: a. said frame means has a pair of elongated members and a mount to attach said frame means in overhanging relation on the side of said container with said pump means inside said container and said means for activating said pump means outside said container, b. said frame means is elongated sufficiently to position said pump and said second inlet in a position to receive liquid from within said container, c. said conduit means has said first inlet on the lower end portion of said frame means and said first outlet on the upper end portion of said frame means adapted to pass liquid through said frame means, d. said valve means and said pump means are mounted on said lower end portion of said frame means.
 5. The pumping means as described in claim 4, wherein: a. said pump means is a shaft driven rotary positive displacement pump having an inlet strainer mounted on said second inlet and extending therefrom, b. said pump is secured to one of said elongated members and positioned between said pair of elongated members, and connected to said conduit means portion of said frame means by said valve means, and c. said pump is adapted to operate above and below the liquid level in a tank.
 6. The pumping means as described in claim 5, wherein: a. said conduit means portion of said frame means is one of said elongated members that has said first inlet on the lower end portion thereof, said first outlet on the upper end portion thereof and means to attach said conduit means to another conduit means for distribution of the pumped liquid.
 7. The pumping means as described in claim 1 wherein said means for activating said pump means is an electric motor.
 8. The pumping means as described in claim 7 wherein said electric motor has as an overload circuit that will automatically shut said motor off should said motor become overloaded. 